based on what info is availbale on the net, it seems that at least one school or district, does NOT require parental consent for paddling. maybe there are others like it.

I live in Texas where corporal punishment is still legal and is occasionlly practiced. What you need to understand is that teachers are not allowed to execute the corporal punishment themselves. Every year we sign a form which states if we give permission for or against corporal punishment. It takes a major offense or many, many offenses before corporal punishment is even considered. And then, the principal with another witness present executes the corporal punishment. Please understand that in most cases, teachers are not going around "hitting" kids, especially not for minor offenses.

FYI: Until this year I have always given permission for corporal punishment for all of my children. This year I marked the No box because I have a personal issue with the principal and I want to be informed of any and all dealings between her and my children.

I was shocked to read that corporal punishment is still legal in some states. I had no idea!!!

As a teaacher in a California school, I can't imagine EVER hitting a child. That would completely undermine everything I work to accomplish. The thought occassionally crosses my mind (usually in the spring) but acting on that would be SO absolutely unacceptable. I don't go around hitting other teachers, do I? So why would I hit a child?

Seems to me that these teachers are out of control. If hitting is the only way to keep their classrooms in line, they need to learn some classroom management techniques.

As a mother of three school-aged children, I can't imagine what response I would have if a teacher hit my child. I'm sure we all teach our children that hitting is wrong, and if you do something wrong you MUST apologize and never do it again. So maybe some apologies - teacher to student - are in order.

some school are doing the right thing, othrs.....

nytimes.com/2006/09/30/education/30punish.html?

...yeah, the thought of it is more than most can even imagine as it seems like such an "old fashioned" way to punish a child. I mentioned the post to our dean and he started laughing until he realized I wasn't joking. He was amazed but not surprised.

Then again, this week in Colorado we have other issues to tend to that are more puzzling.

I was discussing this issue with my best Illinois friend. She's a nurse, was asking about my new Alabama doctor, I said I wasn't thrilled with him and espcecially now that I see he's on the city school board that has a pro-corporal punishment policy. She got very quiet for a minute and then said, "Um, nobody uses corporal punishment any more. It's illegal." I said, "No, it's currently legal in 22 of our states and, apparently, used quite frequently." She was literally dumbfounded.

That's why I think the current efforts to bring national media attention to this issue is so important. It lets people know it still goes on in many public schools and lets those practicing it know that the majority of the country disagrees with it.